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arXiv · 2411.10390

The electronic structure of Mn$_{1-x}$Pb$_x$Bi$_2$Te$_4$: experimental evidence of topological phase transition

D. A. Estyunin·T. P. Estyunina·I. I. Klimovskikh·K. A. Bokai·V. A. Golyashov·K. A. Kokh·O. E. Tereshchenko·S. Ideta·Y. Miyai·Y. Kumar·T. Iwata·T. Kosa·T. Okuda·K. Miyamoto·K. Kuroda·K. Shimada·A. M. Shikin
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Abstract

This study investigates methods for controlling the physical properties of the intrinsic magnetic topological insulator MnBi$_2$Te$_4$ (MBT) by substituting Mn with Pb in Mn$_{1-x}$Pb$_x$Bi$_2$Te$_4$ (MPBT) solid solutions. This substitution enables tunable magnetic and electronic properties. Using various angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) techniques, including spin-resolved and circular dichroism (CD) measurements, we analyzed the evolution of the electronic structure across different Pb concentrations, with a focus on topological phase transitions (TPT) near x = 50 %. Key indicators of TPT include the presence or absence of topological surface states (TSS) and bulk band gap closure. The results show a gradual decrease of the bulk band gap in the electronic structure of MPBT up to x = 40 %, where it nearly vanishes, followed by a constant gap value between 40 - 60 %, and its reopening above 80 %, which is accompanied by a transition of the electronic structure of MPBT to a PbBi$_2$Te$_4$-like electronic structure. TSS were observed at x less than 30 % and greater than 80 %, as confirmed by CD and spin-resolved ARPES data, but were absent near x = 55 %, suggesting a distinct topological phase - possibly semi-metallic or a trivial insulator with a narrow gap phase. These findings demonstrate the tunability of the electronic structure of MPBT, making it a promising candidate for topological and spintronic applications.

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D. A. Estyunin, T. P. Estyunina, I. I. Klimovskikh, K. A. Bokai, V. A. Golyashov, K. A. Kokh, O. E. Tereshchenko, S. Ideta, Y. Miyai, Y. Kumar, T. Iwata, T. Kosa, T. Okuda, K. Miyamoto, K. Kuroda, K. Shimada, A. M. Shikin. 2024-11-15. The electronic structure of Mn$_{1-x}$Pb$_x$Bi$_2$Te$_4$: experimental evidence of topological phase transition. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevresearch.7.023168

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